Chapter 6

The air conditioning was useless against the heat of the Odaiba summer. They worked without the usual relaxation and play, but with fierce dedication and the constant clicking of scissors against flowers. The smell permeated every inch of the shop. The closed door permitted no escape from the hot, heavy stench that hung around them while they worked.

It had been a particularly long day and it wasn't over yet. A while back, Takenouchi Flowers had received an order to supply flower arrangements for a large wedding. Usually, Sora explained, a small family owned shop like their own wouldn't take on such a big request, but the bride was a long time patron and a friend of her mother's, so they had agreed.

They had ordered the extra flowers they needed, practically cleaned out the garden, and were ready to prepare the arrangements. The wedding was tomorrow and they were pressed for time. They started in the early morning but still, Ms. Takenouchi was forced to close down the shop.

Lunch break was nonexistent and they worked till past close. "Finished," Sora said finally, exhaled, and laid out on the counter she had been sitting on. She was eager to get out of the place, but utterly exhausted. "No fair," Tai grumbled, but a few seconds later, his clipping stopped as well and he hoped onto the other side of the counter.

"I never want to see another white rose again." Tai said numbly. "Well, I wouldn't mind seeing one…it's the 'arranging' them I despise," Sora responded in the same dull tone. Both teens had dirt smudged everywhere from just a few plants they potted. Sora's hair, which had started in a tight bun, was now a complete mess, pieces falling all over, with her working too intensely to try to put them back in place. Tai's hair…well…it was beyond words. "It must be a huge wedding," Tai mentioned as he gazed around the shop, packed to the brim with white flowers and sliver ribbons.

"Yeah," Sora said. For a moment she stopped, remembering the wedding she had planned out for her and Tai when she was 8. She blushed, "huge." Tai sighed, jumped off the counter, and turned to her.

"Well, oh Mighty Queen of Flower Arranging," he said with an evil smirk, "let us depart." On an impulse, he took her hand gently in his own, hoping she would just see it as part of the act.

She did. Rolling her eyes she hoped off the counter. She quickly dropped Taichi's hand, afraid if she held on any longer he might realize what was going on. Tai noticed her urgency to let go and tried to keep from looking to embarrassed.

"Mama, we're all done, we're gonna head home, ok?" She called into the back, where her mother had been working. "Alright, good work you two," She called back, still preoccupied with the last of the flowers.

"So think you can handle the shop all alone tomorrow?" Sora asked playfully as they walked home. Her mom and her would be out at the wedding tomorrow and Tai would be in charge. "Let's hope," Taichi said, looking up at the night sky. "I wouldn't worry about it too much. I know-" "Hey Sora," Tai interrupted.

"Yeah?"

"Let's go to the park."

"What?" Sora said with a disbelieving laugh.

"Let's go to the park." Tai repeated.

"…Okay?" Sora responded, confused, but amused. She went along without anymore question, interested to see what had come over Tai.

So they turned around and headed to the park. Once they reached it, Tai flopped down in the grass. Sora stared at him strangely. "So….?" "No, no, no! Here!" He said, and pulled her gently down onto the grass. "Look," he said and pointed at the stars.

"Beautiful," She said quietly. He turned and looked at his best friend lying next to him who gazed intently at the stars. "Yeah," he said with a laugh. He turned his attention to the sky once more. "Makes you realize how small we are. Like nothing we do really matters." He stated, without thinking, or realizing where he had heard that phrase before. "Of course it does, we can't take the chance that it doesn't." Sora said with a smile, "Or at least, that's what a good friend told me." 

Tai laughed, finally remembering the conversation. AN: whee, referring to the conversation they had in season 01 before they go into datamon's pyramid "I don't know, maybe I was wrong…you know, back in the digiworld, we made a difference…but here?" "I know what you mean…we went from average kids, to heroes, to average kids again. And I guess…maybe we can't make a huge difference now, like saving the world…but we can still make little differences…and those can add up to the big ones," she responded.

And a strange unexplainable wave of happiness came over Tai. He was suddenly blissful with the world and with everything he had, but mostly, with his friendship with Sora. He wanted to stand up and dance and sing about how great humanity was and how life was amazing. He wanted to hug Sora so tight that it might risk her eyes popping out AN: put in for you, Fluffy.

And so he did. He rolled to his side and hugged her for all he was worth. Sora was bright red with blush when he let her go but some silent understanding between them kept her from asking any question. The two continued looking at the stars, both with blissful smiles hidden by the dark of the night.

Eventually, it was time to go home and Sora was fairly certain she'd be in trouble AGAIN… yet she could care less. Like some sort of infection, the same giddy-happy feeling that had come over Tai had come over her as well and as he walked her to her door she was determined to do something to make sure this night and this feeling didn't go to waste.

"Thanks Tai," She said, as she opened the door slightly. "No problem Sora," he responded as usual, believing they were only exchanging the usual formalities. "No Tai, I mean, really thanks for everything. For working at the shop, for tonight, for all those times before that, for being such an amazing friend." Quickly, before she let logic take hold, she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. Pulling back she blushed, "Thanks," and then retreated into her apartment.

Tai touched his cheek, dumbfounded for a second, as his mind processed what had just happened. He tried hard to contain his excitement and not jump around like an idiot right in front of Sora's apartment. He walked little by little down the hallway, each step more painfully slow. As he finally entered his apartment, a loud "WOOHOO!" echoed through Odaiba.

AN: Whee…okay… I didn't exactly check this over at all, so please forgive any grammar or spelling mistakes, I basically typed word for word (or at least, the words I could read) from my notebook…and that doesn't always lead to good writing ;) Anyway, a thousand MILLION thanks to all who reviewed, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it, I love you! Hopefully, I'll have the next chapter up pretty soon since Thanksgiving Break is coming up :) I think we're nearing the end, or at least the halfway point of this, there are at least…four more chapters I'm pretty sure of, but that's subject to change. ;)

Much love!

-Soragirl

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